Dwarf flowering crab apple tree named Lanzam

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of dwarf flowering crab apple tree named Lanzam is provided. The new variety can be readily distinguished from the Toringo crab apple tree (nonpatented in the United States). For instance, the new variety forms attractive dark red buds which open into white blossoms, has a compact and twiggy growth habit, has ovate-elliptic leaves, and consistently produces distinctive golden-colored fruit. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct variety Malus crab apple tree was discovered during1976 as a seedling of unknown parentage while growing in a cultivatedarea tended by man. More specifically, the new variety was discoveredwhile growing among trees of the Toringo crab apple (Malus sieboldii)being grown on the Kohankie Farm located at Perry, Ohio in Zone 6a. Theseed parent of the new variety is believed to be Malus sieboldii and thepollen parent is unknown.

My attention was initially attracted to a single plant of the newvariety since it was found to exhibit a combination of characteristicswhich differ significantly from those of the Toringo crab apple tree.Had I not discovered and preserved this new tree it would have been lostto mankind.

It has been found that the new and distinct flowering crab apple tree ofthe present invention exhibits the following combination ofcharacteristics:

(a) exhibits a dwarf compact, upright, broadly conical and twiggy growthhabit,

(b) forms a profusion of attractive dark red buds which open into whiteblossoms,

(c) consistently forms attractive golden-colored fruit, and

(d) forms ovate-elliptic leaves as opposed to Malus sieboldii whichcommonly forms three-lobed leaves.

Trees of the new variety have been asexually reproduced by budding ontoMalus domestica understocks. Propagation by softwood cuttings has provento be 95 percent successful. The characteristics of the new variety havebeen found to be strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation fromone generation to another.

The new variety has been named the Lanzam variety. Also, trees of thenew variety are being marketed under the Lancelot trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character,typical specimens of the tree and plant parts of the new variety. Thespecimens depicted were grown at Perry, Ohio.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fourteen year-old tree of the new variety duringautumn while the leaves are undergoing their usual seasonal colortransformation from green to gold.

FIG. 2 illustrates representative specimens of the attractive goldenfruit of the new variety while present on the tree.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of several flower buds, as well assome representative somewhat immature leaves.

FIG. 4 illustrates a close-up view of several blossoms.

FIG. 5 illustrates for comparative purposes representativeovate-elliptic leaves of the new variety on the left and representativethree-lobed leaves of the Toringo crab apple tree on the right. Thephotograph was made during early November thus the color variations areattributable to the fall environment. The disparity in leaf shape andsize is apparent.

FIG. 6 illustrates the upright and twiggy growth habit of the newvariety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of the RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). Other references to colorare to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance. Thedescriptions are based upon trees grown at Perry, Ohio.

The original tree of the new variety exhibits a genetically controlleddwarf growth habit and is approximately 81/2 feet tall, approximately 5feet wide, and has a caliper of approximately 5 inches at grade.Accordingly, the new variety exhibits a compact, upright, broadlyconical and twiggy growth habit. When grown on its own roots, the treeis expected to reach a height of approximately 10 feet and a width ofapproximately 8 feet at full maturity. On the contrary the Toringo appletree commonly assumes a height of 10 to 15 feet and sometimes reaches aheight of 30 feet in the wild. Also, the Toringo apple tree commonly isa wide, if not wider, than it is tall.

The new variety exhibits a considerably more upright growth habit thanthe Toringo apple tree wherein the branches leave the tree in a somewhathorizontal configuration and are arching or pendulous. While the newvariety could be considered to form a central leader, such leader is notdominant due to the overall growth habit. The new variety is estimatedto be approximately four times more dense than the Toringo apple tree.

For a genetically dwarf tree, the new variety is considered to be veryvigorous. When the new variety is compared to the Toringo crab apple atPerry, Ohio, trees of the same age are found to exhibit substantiallythe same caliper. However, in all instances the trees of the Toringoapple are taller and wider than the new variety. Since the distancebetween internodes along the branches is much shorter on the newvariety, many more scaffold branches are exhibited.

The blossom appearance of the new variety can be readily distinguishedfrom that of the Toringo crab apple tree which is known to produce pinkbuds which open into pink flowers which fade to white. On the contrary,the present variety forms in profusion attractive dark red buds whichopen into pure white blossoms. The dark red coloration of the budsgenerally corresponds to that of Red Group 53B, and when the blossomsare open, the blossom coloration has have been found commonly tocorrespond to that of White Group 155D. No blossom fragrance has beenobserved to date.

The leaves commonly are approximately three-fourths to completely openat the time of flowering.

The configuration of the flowers is generally typical of the genus, andin particular of that of the Toringo crab apple tree. The flowers of thenew variety are perfect, single and extremely numerous. Bloomingcommonly occurs from mid-April to mid-May at Perry, Ohio, and commonlylasts approximately 10 to 14 days following its onset. Such flowerscommonly are borne in 5 to 6 umbellate clusters on slender pedicelshaving a length of approximately 3/4 inch which arise from fruitingspurs having a length of approximately 1/2 inch. The flowers commonlyaverage approximately 1 to 11/4 inch at the broadest point when fullyexpanded. The corolla consists of 5 broadly obovate petals which narrowabruptly to slender claws of approximately 1/8 inch in length. Theslender and acute calyx lobes are reflexed. The new variety producespollen which is believed to be self fertile.

Except for the shape of the leaves, the vegetative and reproductiveparts of the variety are in most respects typical of the genus, and inparticular of that of the Toringo crab apple tree. The leaves areusually alternate, simple ovate-elliptic and serrulate. The leafcoloration during mid-season commonly approximates that of Yellow-GreenGroup 146B on the upper surface and tends to be paler on the undersurface. The leaves have a generally rounded base and commonly end in anacuminate tip. The leaves are pubescent on both sides. The leaves ofvegetative shoots commonly reach a length of approximately 3 to 33/4inches and include a petiole commonly measuring approximately 3/4 inchin length. The leaves of fruiting shoots tend to be smaller in size andvariable in all dimensions. The fruiting spurs average approximately 1/2inch in length. The immature twigs are maroon and villous with smallorange lenticels which persist with age. Winter buds are mediumchocolate brown in coloration and generally are glabrous except for somedensely white villous margins of the bud scales. The fall leafcoloration approximates Yellow-Orange Group 22A.

The fruit of the new variety undergoes the usual color changes. Theimmature fruit of the new variety initially is bright green, changes toyellow, and subsequently develops a bright golden-yellow coloration (asillustrated) which commonly approximates Yellow-Orange Group 15C whenripe. The fruit stem coloration when supporting the ripe fruit commonlyapproximates Red Group 44B. It will eventually turn a deep goldencoloration before it assumes a brownish coloration when overripe by lateJanuary when it begins to fall from the tree. The fruit is a smallglobose pome containing two single-seeded locules. Such fruit averagesapproximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Upon maturity, the fruitacquires a faint waxy bloom and the calyx is abscising. The fruit isformed in a substantially uniform manner each year. Accordingly, the newvariety cannot be considered to be an alternate bearing tree.

When grown at Perry, Ohio, the new variety has exhibited diseaseresistance and has not been affected to any degree by diseases andinsects which are common to crab apple trees. Additionally, the newvariety has been shown to be highly resistant to scab when tested inPennsylvania and Wisconsin. The new variety has proven to be hardy whengrown in Zone 4. For example, on Jan. 21, 1985, it was exposed to a lowtemperature of -18° F. without a deleterious impact. Also, considerabledrought resistance has been exhibited by the new variety. For instance,the average annual precipitation at Perry, Ohio is understood to be 35.4inches. In two out of the last four years the area has experiencedsevere drought conditions. In 1988 the annual precipitation was only29.69 inches and in 1991 the annual precipitation was only 32.67 inches.The new variety withstood these conditions without any known damage.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of flowering crab apple treewhich exhibits the following combination of characteristics:(a) exhibitsa dwarf, compact, upright, broadly conical and twiggy growth habit, (b)forms a profusion of attractive dark red buds which open into whiteblossoms, (c) consistently forms attractive golden-colored fruit, and(d) forms ovate-elliptic leaves as opposed to Malus sieboldii whichcommonly forms three-lobed leaves;substantially as herein shown anddescribed.